Window assembly



Sept. 11, 1956 onuss 2,762,088

WINDOW ASSEMBLY 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fi led May 29; 1951 INVENTOR Willi 650865 4. 190 THFUSS BY 773% We Sept. 11, 1956 G. A. ROTHFUSS WINDOW ASSEMBLY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 29 1951 INVENTOR 6509 GE ,4 BOTH/C066;

ATTORNEYS.

WINDOW ASSEMBLY George A. Rothfuss, Madison, Wis.

Application May 29, 1951, Serial No. 228,840

8 Claims. (Cl. 20-55) This invention relates to window assemblies and more particularly to a window and storm window assembly.

It is among the objects of the invention to provide an improved window assembly wherein several windows are slidably mounted in side by side relationship in a common plane for convenience in installation and removal and a set of storm windows are mounted in the same frame at the outer side of the slidable windows; wherein the inner windows may be opened or entirely removed without disturbing the storm windows and at least one of the storm windows can be opened for ventilation; wherein screens can be easily substituted for the storm windows, if desired; wherein the windows can be locked together in sealing relationship; and which assembly is simple and durable in construction, economical to manufacture and easy to install.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the following description and the appended claims in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevatioual view of a window assembly illustrative of the invention looking at the inside of the window assembly;

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view on the line 22 of Figure 1;

Figures 3, 4 and are transverse cross sectional views on the lines 3-3, 44 and 5-5 of Figure 1; and

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a fragmentary portion of the frame of the window assembly.

With continued reference to the drawings, the window assembly includes a window frame, generally indicated at 10, of rectangular shape elongated horizontally and having a lower member or sill 11, an upper member or plate 12 substantially parallel to the lower member and end members 13 and 14 extending between the upper and lower members at corresponding ends of the frame, the end members being materially shorter than the upper and lower members. The frame also includes intermediate frame bars 15 and 16 extending between the upper and lower members substantially perpendicular thereto and dividing the frame into a central window opening and side openings disposed one at each side of the central opening. The side openings are of substantially the same size, but the central opening is somewhat narrower than the side openings.

For the purpose of simplifying the description the two edges of the frame will be hereinafter referred to as the outdoors and indoors edges and the faces of the frame members adjacent the window openings will be referred to as the inner faces of the members.

A storm sash retaining strip 17 extends along the outdoors edge of the inner face of the end member 14 and an abutment strip 18 extends along the indoors side of the retaining strip 17 on the inner face of the end member 14. A retaining strip 19 extends along the outdoors edge of the inner face of the bottom member 11 from the end member 14 to the intermediate member or bar 16 and the bar 16 is rabbeted along its side facing the end member 14 to provide a retaining strip extension 20 extending along the outdoors edge of the side of this member facing the end member 14. The top member Patented Sept. 11, 1955 12 is provided with a retaining strip 21 extending along the outdoors edge of its inner face from the end member 14 to the intermediate member 16 corresponding to the retaining strip 19 on the lower member. A storm sash including a rectangular frame 22 and a transparent pane 23 marginally secured in the frame is disposed in the side opening between the end member 14 and the intermediate member 16 with the outdoors edge of the frame bearing against the indoors edges of the retaining strips 17, 19, 20 and 21, as is particularly illustrated in Figure 5, to close the corresponding side opening in the window frame and provide a weathertight seal between the storm sash and the window frame.

The intermediate members 15 and 16 are rabbeted out along the outdoors edges of the their mutually adjacent faces to provide grooves, as is particularly illustrated in Figure 2 and the upper and lower members are rabbeted out along the outdoors edges of their inner faces between the intermediate members 15 and 16 to provide grooves, as is particularly illustrated in Figure 4, and a storm window pane 24 is marginally received in these grooves and secured therein by suitable means, such as the putty indicated at 25.

The end member 15 is provided on its inner face with a sash retaining strip 26 spaced inwar ly from its outdoors edge a distance equal to the thickness of a storm sash frame and the intermediate member 15 is rabbeted out along the outdoors edge of its side facing the end member 13, as indicated at 27, to provide a groove of a size to receive a side rail of a storm sash frame. The upper and lower members 12 and 11 are also rabbeted out along the outdoors edges of their inner faces between the end member 13 and the intermediate member 15 to provide sash frame receiving grooves and a storm window sash frame 28 is received in these grooves and carries a pane 29 closing the side opening between the intermediate member 15 and the end member 13. At its upper edge this sash frame 28 is hinged to the upper member 12 of the window frame by suitable hinges, as indicated at 30, so that this storm window sash can be swung outwardly at its bottom edge to provide a ventilatmg opening.

The upper and lower members 12 and 11 of the frame 'are provided with recesses 31 and 32 disposed inwardly of the grooves receiving the center storm window pane 24 and of a width to receive the upper and lower rails of a center window sash and are provided at the indoors sides of these recesses with guide rails 33 and 34 respectively, which extend inwardly from the inner sides of these frame members to engage the indoors sides of the top and bottom rails of a window sash carried by the frame inwardly of the center pane 24.

As is particularly illustrated in Figures 2 and 6, the ends of the guide rails 33 and 34 adjacent the intermediate frame bar 16 are spaced from the indoors side of this bar a distance sufficient to permit a window sash to he slid into the recesses from the space between the intermediate bar 16 and the end member 14 of the window frame.

A window sash including a frame 35 and a pane 36 marginally secured in the frame 35 has its upper and lower rails received in the recesses 31 and 32 respectively and covers the center opening between the intermediate frame. bars 15 and 16 at the indoors side of the storm window frame 24. When this center window sash is in closing relationship, as is illustrated in Figure 2, one side rail of its frame is received in a rabbeted groove 37 provided along its indoors edge of the face of the intermediate member 15 adjacent the intermediate member 16 and the other side rail of the frame 35 overlaps the indoors side of the intermediate frame member 16 and the indoors side of the adjacent side rail of the sash frame 22.

A guide rail 38 extends from a location spaced from the indoors side of the guide rail 34 and from the side of the intermediate member 16 adjacent the intermediate member 15 toward the latter intermediate member to a. location at the inner face of the end member 14 and adjacent the indoors side of the side rail of the frame 22 adjacent this end member, the guide rail 38 being thus inclined toward the indoors side of the window frame in a direction away from the end member 14. A corresponding guide rail 39 is secured to the top member 12 of the frame and is inclined from the end member 14 at the indoors side of the adjacent side rail of the sash frame 22 to a location spaced from the indoors side of the intermediate member 22 and disposed between the intermediate members. A window sash including a frame 49 and a windowpane 41 marginally secured in the frame 49 has its upper and lower frame rails grooved along their outer edges to slidably receive the guide rails 38 and 39. This sash frame. 40 can he slid onto the guide rails 38 and 39 from the ends of these rails adjacent the intermediate frame member 15 and when in position covering the opening. between the intermediate frame member 16 and the end member 1 4, has one of its side rails hearing against the indoors side of the side rail of the frame 22 adjacent the end member 14 and its other side rail overlapping the indoors side of the adjacent side rail of the frame 35 of the center window sash.

It will be noted that the bottom surface of the recess 32 is above the top surface of the guide rail 38 and that the top surface of the recess 31 is below the bottom surface of the guide rail 39, so that the sash including thev frame 35 can beslid into place from a location opposite the side opening between' the intermediate member 16 and the end member 14 without interfering with the slide rails 38 and 39 and that the sash including the frame 49 can then be slid onto the slide rails 38 and 39 without any interference between the frame of this sash and the sash frame 35.

A window lock 42 is secured on the side rail of the frame 40 remote from the frame end member 14 and a catch is secured on the adjacent side rail of the frame 35, so that these frame side members can be locked together in sealing relationship, this lock also forcing the 4 with the indoors side of the intermediate member and the adjacent side rail of the frame 35.

A window lock 47 is monnted on the side rail of the frame 45 adjacent the intermediate frame bar 15 and engages a catch carried by the adjacent side rail of the frame 35 to lock the frames 45 and 35 together and force the side rail of the frame 45 adjacent the end member 13 into firm Contact with this end member.

It will be noted that the guide rails 33 and 34 for the center window sash are beveled on the indoors sides of 7 their opposite ends to provide surfaces spaced from and parallel to the adjacent guide rails for the side window sashes and that the side rails of the frame 35 and the frame 49 against the end I'n'emher 14 and the frame against the intermediate member 15 to tightly seal the window sashes with the frame at these locations.

A slide rail 43 is mounted on the inner face of the bottom member 11 of the window frame and extends from a location adjacent the indoors side of the retaining strip 26 on the end member 13 to a location between the intermediate members 15 and 16' and spaced from the indoors side of the pane 36" of the center window' sash, rail being inclined toward the indoors edge of the frame in a direction away from the end member 13. A corresponding slide rail 44 is secured to' the inner face of the top member 12 of the frame and extends from a location adjacent the indoors side of the retaining strip 26 to a location disposed between the intermediate members 15 and 16 and spaced inwardly from the indoors side of the pane 36, this slide rail also being inclined toward the indoors side of the window frame in a direction away from the end member 13;

A Window sash including a frame 45 and a prime" 4;; marginally secured inthe frame 45, has the upper and lower rails of itsframe grooved along their outer sides to receive the guide rails 43 and 44 and this sash is slid ably mounted upon the guide rails 43 and 44 and, when in. closing relationship with the side opening between the intermediate member1-5 andthe end member 13,- has the outdoors side of its side rail adjacent the endmernber 1.3 in contact with the indoors side of the retaining strip 26 and the outdoors side of its other side rail in contact indoors side of the intermediate member 15 are also slightly beveled to provide complete surface contact the adjacent side rails of the frames 40 and 45. It will also be noted that the panes of the window sashes are spaced from the storm window panes to provide insulat ing air spaces between the outdoors and indoors panes.

The adjacent ends of the guide rails 38 and 43 and of the guide rails 39 and 44 are spaced a sufficient dis-" tance apart that the sash frames 49 and can be slid onto these guide rails without interference with each other or with the frame 35 of the center sash;

With this arrangement, all of the indoors sashes can be removed for cleaning and replaced without interfering with the outdoors or storm sashes and, if desired, the indoors sash having the frame 45 can be moved to an open position, so that when the storm sash having the frame 28 is opened, a ventilating opening will be pro vided through the window.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiment'is, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are, therefore, in tended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed is:

1. A window assembly comprising a horizontally elongated frame having an upper side and a lower side, frame bars extending between said upper and lower sides dividing said frame into a central opening and side openings located one at each side of said central opening, glazed storm window sashes closing said openings at the outdoors side of said frame, at least one of said storm window sashes being hinged along one edge to said frame so that it can be opened for ventilation, guide rails secured to the upper and lower sides of said frame, two of said guide rails being substantially parallel to the storm sash closing said central opening and spaced therefrom toward the indoors edge of said frame and two guide rails being spaced toward the indoors edge of said frame from each of said storm sashes closing said side openings one on the upper and one on the lower side of said frame and each inclined from a position spaced from the adjacent end of the corresponding center guide rail toward the indoors edge of said frame to a location adjacentthe indoors side of the corresponding storm window sash at the corresponding end of said frame, and window sashesslidably mounted on said guide rails one in covering relationship to saidcenter opening andpne in covering relationship to each of said side openings, the window sashes covering said side openings overlap ping at their mutually adjacent edges the corresponding edges of the window sash covering said center opening at the indoors side of the last mentioned window sash.

2. A window assembly comprising a window frame including a top member, a bottom member substantially parallel to said top member, end members extending be tween-said top and bottom members one at each end of said frame and intermediate members e'x'tendin'g' he tween said top. and bottom members. and dividing the space within said frame into a center opening and side openings disposed one at each side of said center opening, storm window panes carried by said frame at the outdoors side thereof in covering relationship to said openings, guide rails on the inner faces of said top and bottom members including an upper and a lower guide rail extending across the center opening and spaced from the indoors side of the corresponding storm window pane, and upper and lower guide rails extending across the side openings and spaced from the indoors sides of the corresponding storm window panes, the last mentioned guide rails being inclined toward the indoors side of said frame, and window sashes slidably mounted on said guide rails in covering relationship to said center and said side openings.

3. A window assembly comprising a window frame including a top member, a bottom member substantially parallel to said top member, end members extending between said top and bottom members one at each end of said frame and intermediate members extending between said top and bottom members and dividing the space within said frame into a center opening and side openings of about the same size disposed one at each side of said center opening, storm window panes carried by said frame at the outdoors side thereof in covering relationship to said openings, guide rails on the inner faces of said top and bottom members including an upper and a lower guide rail extending across the center opening and spaced from the indoors side of the corresponding stonn window pane, and upper and lower guide rails extending across the side openings and spaced from the indoors sides of the corresponding storm window panes, the last mentioned guide rails being inclined toward the indoors side of said frame, and window sashes slidably mounted on said guide rails in covering relationship to said center and said side openings, one of said intermediate frame members constituting a stop for sliding movement of the sash covering said center opening across said center opening and said end members constituting stops for sliding movements of the sashes covering said side openings across the corresponding side openings.

4. A window assembly comprising a window frame including a top member, a bottom member substantially parallel to said top member, and members extending between said top and bottom members one at each end of said frame and intermediate members extending between said top and bottom members and dividing the space within said frame into a center opening and side openings substantially at least as large as said center opening disposed one at each side of said center opening, guide rails on the inner faces of said top and bottom members including an upper and a lower guide rail extending across the center opening and spaced from the indoors sides of said intermediate members and upper and lower guide rails extending across the side openings and spaced at their ends adjacent said intermediate members from the indoors sides of the corresponding guide rails extending across the center opening, the last mentioned guide rails being inclined from the corresponding ends of said frame toward the indoors side of said frame, and window sashes slidably mounted on said guide rails one in covering relationship to said center opening and one in covering relationship to each of said side openings, each of the last mentioned sashes being removable from said frame without disturbing the other sashes and said center sash being removable from said frame after removal of one of the side opening covering sashes.

5. A window assembly comprising a frame including a pair of spaced apart and substantially parallel members, guide rails mounted on the inner faces of said members and extending inwardly therefrom, the guide rails on each member being disposed in substantially end to end relationship and the guide rails on both members being arranged in pairs with the two rails of each pair disposed one on each of said members and directly opposite each other, and window sashes slidably mounted one on each pair of guide rails, at least one pair of guide rails being inclined toward the indoors side of the window frame in a direction toward the adjacent pair of guide rails so that the window sash mounted on said one pair of guide rails can be slid 0d of one pair of rails longitudinally of the latter and past said adjacent pair of rails, and said adjacent pair of rails extending inwardly of the inner faces of said members a distance greater than said one pair of rails so that the sash carried by said adjacent pair of rails can be slid longitudinally off of the latter and removed from the indoors side of said frame between the rails of said one pair.

6. A window assembly comprising a frame including a pair of spaced apart and substantially parallel members, guide rails mounted on the inner faces of said members and extending inwardly therefrom, the guide rails on each member being disposed in substantially end to end relationship and the guide rails on both members being arranged in pairs with the two rails of each pair disposed one on each of said members and directly opposite each other, window sashes slidably mounted one on each pair of guide rails, each pair of guide rails being inclined toward the indoors side of the window frame in a direction toward the adjacent pair of guide rails so that the window sash mounted on each pair of guide rails can be slid off of one pair of rails longitudinally of the latter and past said adjacent pair of rails, and storm windows mounted in said frame at the outdoors side of said rails,

7. A window assembly comprising a frame including a top member, a bottom member substantially parallel to said top member, end members extending between said top and bottom members at the ends thereof and at least one intermediate member extending between said top and bottom members intermediate the length of the latter dividing the space within said frame into separate window openings, guide rails on the inner faces of said top and bottom members extending one along each end of each window opening with the guide rails extending along the ends of at least one of said window openings being inclined toward the indoors side of said frame in a direction away from the adjacent end member and the guide rails extending along the ends of the window opening adjacent said one window opening extending from the inner faces of said top and bottom members a distance greater than said inclined rails, and window sashes slidably mounted on said rails to respectively cover said window openings, the sash mounted on the inclined rails being removable therefrom at the indoors side of said frame by sliding movement along said inclined rails in a direction away from said adjacent end member and the sash mounted on said rails extending along the ends of said adjacent window opening being removable therefrom by sliding movement therealong and removable from said frame at the indoors side of the latter by passing between said inclined rails.

8. A window assembly comprising a frame including a pair of spaced apart and substantially parallel members with guide rails mounted on the inner faces of said members in pairs and with each pair of guide rails inclined toward the indoors side, sashes slidably mounted on each of said pairs of guide rails wherein said inclination of said rails is such that each of said sashes may be slidably removed longitudinally along said rails from the indoors side of said assembly passing along the side and in close proximity to the ends of the other pair of rails.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,184,582 Singer May 23, 1916 1,507,224 Arave Sept. 2, 1924 2,359,756 Kaufmann Oct. 10, 1944 2,453,992 Kleintop Nov. 16, 1948 2,530,846 Webster Nov. 21, 1950 

